Signal-horn.



Patented May 23, 1916.

2 aunts-sun I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES J. T. ENGLISH.

SIGNAL HORN.

Armcmon mm rum. 2. ms.

Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHHTS-SHEET Z- mvamoR 1.13am T. En 11:11, j g inonuvs phragmsists,-generall v.

JOHN '1. ENGLISH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SIGNAL-HORN Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed June 2, 1815. Serial No. 31,864.

clear, and exact description of the invention,

- such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in signal oralarm-horns; and the invention relates, more particularly, to .a novelconstruction of signal or alarmhorn in which the sound is produced bemechanically agitating or vibrating a diaor sounding-plate to generatesoundwaves of'high penetrating quality.

The principal object of the present nvention is to provide a novelconstruction of dia phra gm or sounding-plate, agitator-means, togetherwith a very simple and effective means of applying a primary motive1mpulse or force thereto to setthe same in operation.

A' further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofdiaphragm or sounding-plate agitator of a rotary form, which is capableof continued rotation or movement through acquired momentum, afterreceiving the initial application ofrhotive force; and a still furt erobject of the invention is to provide, in connection with said agitator,a novel means of applying'or transmitting an initial motive power orforce thereto,-the same being so constructed-as to automaticallydisconnect itself'from the agitator after-imparting theretov the;necessary initial motive impulse, so that said agitator may continue itsoperative mo'vement, indes' lying-or tr'ans pendentl-y of said power-appmitting means, by virtue 0 its acquired m0- mcntum. r

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time moreparticularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from-the-followindetailed'deseription of the same.

'ith'the'variou objects of the present invention; in view, the saidinvention-conin the novel construction of signal or alarm-hornhereinafter set forth;

and, the invention consists, furthermore, in

the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices andparts, as well as in the 'details of the construction of the same, allof which will be more fully described in the following specification,and then finally embodied in the claims which are appended to and whichform an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of the novel construction of signalor alarm-horn, made according to and. embodying the principles of mypresent invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, showinghowever the agitator and connected parts in elevation. Fi 3 is a detaillongitudinal section of said novel signal or alarm-horn, drawn on anenlarged scale, and showing both the agitator and power-transmittingmeans in section and in normal initial posi tion; Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3, but showing the operation of the power transmittingmeans relative to said agitator. Fig. 3" is a fragmentary detaillongitudinal section of a portion of the operating mechanism of saidagitator, drawn on a still larger scale. Fig. 5 is a detail transversehorizontal section, taken on line 5-5 in said Fig. 3, the same beingdrawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the upperend of said agitator, showing the automatic coupling device or clutch ofthe power-transmitting means inoperative relation or connectiontherewith, said view being also drawn on an enlar (1 scale.

Similar c aracters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates the-complete signal or alarm-horn made accordingto and embodying the principles of my. present invention, the samecomprising a shell-like body or casing 2 which is open at one end. Saidshell-like body or casing 2 is provided at the mar 'nal edges of itsopen end with an outwarg y extending annularflan '3, the inner side ofwhich forms a seat.- aid annular flange 3 is provided with a rim orflange 4 extending forwardly at right angles thereto. Arranged upon saidseat formed by said annular flange 3. so as to extend across the openingof said shelllike body or casing 2, isla'idia'phragip on sounding plate5.

The reference character 6 indicates a horn-body, or configuration, thesame having at its iiiner en an outwardly extending annular base-fiangeT. The said base-flange T isof such a; diameter as to permit the same tofit snugly within the rim or flange 4 and against the diaphragm orso\iiidiiig-' lateii; so that the mar iiial ed es of the utter are heldfirmly c amped ietween said base-(tango 7 and said annular flange 3ofthe body or casing 2. Suitable bolts 8 are passed traiis-. verselythrough said respective flanges 3 and 7 and the marginal edges of saiddiaphragm or soundin -plate arranged therebetween, and firmly xedagainst removal by nuts 9, thus securelv binding together said parts inthe above (ascribed relation. Suitably secured'in a centrally disposedposition upon said diaphragm or soundin -plate 5 is an im ingementreceiving heat or button 10, which is arran ed to project into said bodyor casing 2. secured in the lower side of said bodv or casing .2 is abushin' 11 which is A rovided with an 'interna y screwthreaded openingin which is adjustably arranged a ournal stud or pin 12, rovided at'i'tsup )8! end with a cone-shaped carin poi'nt or iead 13. Secured in theupper side of said body or casing? is a bushing 14, the lower portion ofwhich irojects interiorly into said body or casing 2., while the a perportion of the same pro ects exteriorly roni' said'body or casing 2; Thelower portion of said bushing '14 is chambered as at 15, and extendingupwardly from said chambered portion 15 is a tubular hearing orguideopening 16, which is of rcduceddiaineter as compared with thediameter of said chaniber 15.' Said bushing 14, as thus forincd, isalined vertically above the bushing 11 in the lower side of said body orcasing .2.

The reference character 17 indicatesa rotary aitator-elementprovidedwith the opposite y and vertically extended hub-portions 18. Theend of said lower hub-portion is irovided with a cone-shaped'seat 19adapte to engage and be rotatably supported upon said cone-shapedbearing-point or head 18 of said journal stud or pinlQ. The end of saidupper hub-portion is reduced in diameter toprovide a journalortion 20adapted-to be rotatablv 1ournale in the end of said chamber 15 oi saidbushing 14. Extending downward and vertically throughtlie hub-portions18 of said agitator-element 17' is a tubular receiving-chain- 30 her orslideway 21. As thus constructed and disposed, said'agitator-element isarranged to rotate in a periphery is rorided with a plurality ofagitating teet or serrations 22 'which nor- 05 mally contact or impingeupon said imair of any usual or desirable shapes horizontal plane, anditsgnt receiving head or button 10 of em diaphragm or sounding-plate 5.Connected with said agitator-element is a disklike extension which addsweight to the same and performs the function of a balance ormmentiun-whcel.

t The reference character 'l-i indicates a power transmittinScre\\'-sliaiik which is provided with doll ile threads 25 thus )lU-riding double thread-channels 2a. haid scre\\'-shaiik 24 is inserted inthe guide-opening IQ of said bushing 14 and passed downwardltheretlirougli so that its lower end eaten s ipt'o thei'cceii'iiig-chaiiibci' or slide- M 0 ter of the latter being such thata free slidiii r up and down movement of said screw-shun iii the same ispermitted without interfering with the free rotation of saidagitator-clemerit. The outer end of said scrmv-shank is provided with asuitable thrust-head 27. which can be engaged by the hand of theoperator to impart to said screw-shank a downward operative thrust orinoveiiimit. Extending upwardly from the lower end of said screw-shank24 is a tubular receiving chamber 'or socket 28. Inserted in saidchamber or socket 28 is a coiled compression spring 29 the lower end ofwhich extends downwardly through said slideway .21 oi said agitatorelement, so as to be seated against the upper end of said journal studor pin 12, tlielower end of said slidewa v 21 terminating in a hole oropeniu 30 of rc- (hiced diameter as to conform t to same to the end ofsaid spring and maintain the latter properly seated on said journal studor pin, against which the spring thrusts when under compression.Inserted through the lower end of said spring .29 is a keeperrod 31",the upper end of which just enters said socket 28 of said screw-shank 24when the latter is in normal upwardly moved or initial position. Saidkeeper-rod 31 tends to prevent the spring 29 from buckling when placedunder compression by the downwardly moving screw-shank .Z-i. and thus'presents the same from obstructing the operative downward movement ofsaid screwshanlr in said slideway 21.

Thereierence character 32 indicates a coupling or clutch-element in theform of a ring-like member which surrounds the screw-shank 2t, and whichis providedwith inwardly pro eeting lugs or projections 33 which enterrespectively the thread-channels 26 so as to be engaged operatively bvthe double screw threads 25 of said screw-shank 24 Said coiiplin orclutch-element 89 is arranged in said c amber 15 of the bushing 14,above the journal portion 20 of said agitator-elementi and is ca able ofa vertical lay or movement wit in said chamber.

he lower end or side of said coupling or clutchelement 32 is providedwith a series said agitutor-eleiiieiit, the diaiiicof chamferedratchet-like teeth 84, which normally engage a series of oppositelypresented similar chamfered ratchet-like teeth 35 with which the freeend of said journalportion 20 of said agitator-element 17 is provided. Acylindrical stop-nut 86, which is adapted to be secured or screwed uponthe lower end of said screw-shank 24. after said coupling orclutch-element 32 has been operatively assembled therewith, serves toprevent the removal of said screw-shank 24 from operative relation tosaid coupling or clutch-element. and also to limit the normal upwardlymoved or initial position of said screw-shank 24 relative to themechanism with which it is connected, and which it is designed tooperate.

hen the several parts of my novel construction of signal or alarm-hornare constructed and assembled as above described. the same may beoperated in the following described manner. The screw-shank 24 is hitwith the hand and thrust or pressed downward. In traveling downward, itsthreads are carried into operative engagement with the lugs orprojections 83 of said coupling or clutch-element 82, imparting to thelatter a rotary movement, at the same time the downward movement of thescrew-shank 24 forces said coupling or clutch element 32 downward, sothat its clutch-teeth 84 are carried into mesh and operative engagementwith the clutch-teeth 86 of said journal-portion 20 of the upper hub 18of said agitator-element 17, t as imparting to the latter the rotarymovement imparted to the coupling or clutch-element by said screw-shank.as above mentioned. This 0 eration results in transmitting to saidagitator-element a quick rotary or spinning movement, whereby itsagitating teeth or serrations 22 are rapidly and successively impingedupon the impingement receiving button or head 10 of said diaphragm orsounding-plate 5, thereby causing a rapid vibration or agitation of thelatter which results in a sound-production providing an alarm or signal,the sounds thus produced being amplified and mellowed. i. e. renderedless metallic and more musical. by the hornbody 6 into which they aredischar ed or directed. In thus transmittin to said agitutor-element 17a rapid spinning movement, the same acquires a certain amount ofmomentum which will tend to maintain its continued rotation withoperative effect upon said diaphragm or sounding-plate 5. even after thedirect application of motive force, transmitted in the manner abovedescribed. has ceased. From such novel operation. a distinctive orcharacteristic sirenlike sound may be producml. which is not only suddenand penetrating at its initiation. but is sustained with decreasingpitch asthe agitator-element slows up by reason of its loss of momentum,the resulting sound being a loud and piercing tone at the beginningwhich gradually trails oil or diminishes both in intensity and pitch. Itwill thus be a parent, that the horn is very well ada ted or signal andalarm purposes, such as or use on automobiles. power-boats and similarplaces. The operator secures a long time-period of sustained alarm soundwith a minimum initial manual operation. After the downward thrust ormovement of said screw-shank 24 has been mnnuallv accomplished, the handis removed therefrom. and the tension stored by the compression of thespring 29 forces shank 24, returning the same to normal initial osition.As said scrow-shank moves upwar it lifts said coupling or clutch-element32 to the upper end of said chamber 15, and maintains said clutch-teeth34- thereof out of engagement with the clutchteeth 35 of said journalportion 20 of the agitator element, thus allowing the latter to continueits spinning movement by momenturn, as already above mentioned. thoughsaid screw-shank 24 should be held down by the hand the spinnin movementof said agitator element 'Olllt .not be obstructed by said coupling orclutch-airment 32. since as soon as of the screw-shank causes. theclutch-clement 82 is free to ride upward, as the chamfered sides of therespective clutch-teeth will permit the same to separate. and theclutch-tecth-85 of the journal portion 20 of the agitator-element toride or move ahead of the clutch-teeth 34-, so that the clutchelementwill lift free, and thus will not interfere with the continued rotationof the agitator-element under the force of its acquired momentum.

From the above description it will be clearly understood, that mypresent invention provides a very cheap and yet ellicicnt constructionof signal or alarm horn. capa- I i ble of producing a comparativelysustained sound-note or alarm, under a minimum of normal operation. andat the same time the mechanism is of exceedingly simple charm-- upwardsaid screwthe downward pressure H lJd ter with no parts easilydisarrangwl or rcndered inoperative. and a mechanism \c\' easy andsimply operated to produce the sound desired.

I am fully aware that changes may he made in the various arran ementsand combinations of the several (evices and parts. as well as in thedetails of the constrnctimi of the same. without departing from thescope of my present invention. as described in the foregoingspecification and as dollncd in the claims appended thereto. llonre. ldo not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations ofthe \nrinns devices. and parts as set forth in the said specification,nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of saidparts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:- 1. An alarm horn com rising a casing, a

diaphragm secured over t ie open end of said casing. animpingement-receivmg button on said diaphragm. a rotary agitator elementmounted in said casing having teeth adapted to impinge when rotated u onsaid impingement-receiving button. sai agitator element havingoppositely extending hubs, an adjustable journal-stud ailixed to saidcasing upon which the lower hub is pivoted. a bushing fixed to saidoasin having a chamber in its inner end and a aide-opening extendingtherefrom outwardlfv to its outer end. the upper hub having abearing-portion journaled in said chamber. said a itator and its hubshaving a longitudinal tu ular slideway formed therein. a self-releasingclutch arranged in said chamber of said bushing above thejournal-portion of said agitator, means in said journal-portion adaptedto receive the operative engagement. of said clutch. a double-thremiedscrew-shank arranged to pass through said guide-opening of said bushingand enter the slideway of said agitator. and means on said clutchadapted to be operatively engaged by the threads of said screw-shankwhereby a rotary movement may be imparted to said clutch by an inwardmovement of said screw-shank. and s ring-means for returning saidscrew-shun to normal position after operation.

2. An alarm horn comprising a casing, a

diaphragm secured over the open end of said casing. animpingement-receivin button on said dia hragm, a rotary agitatorelementmounted in said casing having teeth adapted to impinge when rotated u onsaid impingement-reeeiving button. sai a tetor-element having oppositelyexten ing hubs. an adjustable journal-stud aiiixed to 'said casing uponwhich the lower hub is pivotcd. a bushing fixed to said casing having arhumber in its inner end and a guide-opening extending therefromoutwardly to its outer end, the upper hub having a .iearingportionournaled in said chamber. said agitutor and its hubs havin alongitudinal tubular slidcway formed tl ierein, a self-releasing clutcharranged in said chamber of said bushing above the journal-portion ofsaid agitator. a plurality of chamfered clutchteeth formed on the underside of said rlutch. a corres onding plurality of oppositely chamfermclutch-teeth formed on the bearing-portion of said upper hub adapted tobe operatively engaged by the clutchtceth said clutch. a double-threadedscrew-shank arranged to pass through said guide-opening of said bushingand enter the slideway of said agitator, inwardly progaged by" thethreads of sai jeeted lugs on said clutch ada ted to be enscrew-shankwhereby' a rotary movement is imparted to said clutch by an inwardmovement of said screw-shank, and s ring-means for returning Saidscrew-shan c to normal initial position.

3. An alarm horn comprising a casing, a diaphragm secured over the openend of suit raising. an impingement-receivin button on said diaphragm. arotary agitatorelement mounted in said easing having teeth adapted toimpinge when rotatec upon said impingement-receiving button, saidagitator-element having oppositely extending hubs. an adjustablejournal-stud affixed to said casing upon which the lower hub is pivoted.a bushing fixed to said casing having a chamber in its inner end and aguide-opening extending therefrom outwardly to its outer end, the up erhub having a bearing-portion journalbd in said chamber. said agitatorand its hubs having a longitudinal tubular slideway formed therein. aself-releasing clutch arranged in said chamber of said bushing above thejournal-portion of said agitator, a plurality of ehamfered clutch-teethformed on the under side of said clutch, a corresponding plurality ofoppositely ehamfered clutchteeth formed on the bearing portion of saidupper hub adapted to be operatively engaged by the clutch-teeth of saidclutch. a dmible-threaded screw-shank arranged to pass through saidguide-openin of said bushing and enter the slideway 0% said agitator.inwardly projected lugs on said clutch adapted to be enga ed by thethreads of said screw-shank w ereby a rotary movement is imparted tosaid clutch by an inward movement of said screw-shank. said screw-shankhaving a tubular receiving socket in its lower end, a compression springarranged in said socket and extending down upon the end of saidjournal-studfand a keeper rod extending through the lower.

portion of said spring.

4. An alarm horn. comprising a casing. a diaphragm secured over the openend of said casing. an impingement-receiving button on said diaphragm. arotary agitatorelement having oppositely extending hubs and peripheralteeth adapted to impinge when rotated upon said impingement-receivingbutton. means connected with said casing for rotatably journaling thehubs of said agitator. a self-releasing clutch having ehamferedclutch-teeth at its lower side. a hub of said agitator having oppositelyoh amfered clutch-teeth adapted to be operatively engaged by theclutch-teeth of said clutch. said agitator being provided with a tubularslideway, a double-threaded screwshank mounted to telescope freely intosaid shdeway, inwardly projecting lugs on said clutch adapted to be engad by the threads of said screw-shank where y a rotary movement isimparted to said clutch by an inward movement of said screw-shank, and

r spring-means for returning said screwiank to normal initial position.

5. An alarm horn comprising a casing a diaphragm secured over the openend 0% said casing, an impingement-receiving button on said diaphragm, arotary agltatorelement havin oppositely extending hubs and peripherateeth adapted to impinge when rotated upon said impingement-receivingbutton, means connected with said casing for rotatably journalin thehubs of said agitator, a sel -releasing c utch having chamferedclutch-teeth at its lower side, a hub of said agitator havin o positelychamfered clutch-teeth adapts to e operatively engaged by theclutch-teeth of said clutch, said agitator being provided with a prmg.In testimony t at claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 27th day of May, 1915.

JOHN T. ENGLISH. Witnesses:

FRED. C. Fmnn'rznn, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Qegiea a! this patent my be obtained to: an out: each, by addressing the"Oommiuioncr or Patents, Washington, D. 0."

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